Stylistic Harmony

Chapter Three
The usually buzzing Platform Nine and Three Quarters was oddly quiet this year, Hermione didn't pretend not to know why, people were nervous and parents were reluctant to let their kids go. She stood as always with Harry and Ron, Ron's hand intertwined with hers, everything would be different this year, Hermione was dreading boarding the gleaming red Hogwarts Express. But not as much as she was dreading what happened next. What little noise there was on the platform suddenly ceased into absolute silence, she looked around, confused as to what had happened, she peered up at Harry, his eyes had glazed over and his knuckles were white from the grip he had on his wand, she followed his gaze. It seemed that the other students had scurried out the way, standing not 50 metres in front of them stood Draco Malfoy, flanked by Zabini, Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson. Fellow Gryffindors surrounded the Golden Trio, protecting them. Harry was seething, she tugged on his sleeve,
"Harry, walk away, he isn't worth it, please," she begged him, but her pleas fell on deaf ears, Harry's normally emerald eyes had darkened, all of his rage bubbling to the surface, raising his wand he shouted,
"Malfoy! You shouldn't have come back. Azkaban will seem like nothing compared with what I'm going to do to you. You won't get away with this. Draw your wand, this ends now." Strangely, Draco did not seem to react to this, something had changed in the blonde boy. Whilst his cronies were all growling menacingly at the Gryffindors, Draco walked calmly towards Harry, his wand remaining in his cloak, when he reached him he said, in a low dangerous tone,
"Walk away from this Potter. I won't fight you,"
"You don't have a choice Malfoy. You deserve to pay for what you did," Harry threatened. Malfoy continued to stare at Harry, his cold grey eyes flashing with anger,
"You're right I didn't have a choice. Imagine this Potter, imagine you were blackmailed into doing something you didn't want to, imagine you failed, and the prize for failure was the lives of everyone you loved, what would you do? I did what I had to to save the people I loved. Like I said, walk away, this war isn't between you and me." He glanced sideways at her, he could see the fire in her eyes and the utter disbelief at what he had just said. He turned on his heel and walked the length of the platform to the end of the train. His entourage followed him, before he boarded the train he rounded on them,
"Go get your own cabins and leave me the fuck alone," with that he climbed aboard and found an empty compartment, sitting on the seat he closed his eyes. He fell asleep, with the memory of her eyes forefront in his mind.
Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna had found themselves a compartment, none of them had spoken since Malfoy's little speech. Hermione couldn't believe what had just transpired, Harry and Ron were livid, she could see Harry's anger seething below the surface and Ron, his anger was less controlled, he slammed the compartment door so hard the glass shattered. Hermione repaired it with a flick of her wand, and then sat down next to Harry, she tapped on his arm,
"Harry, Harry please say something," everyone in the carriage looked at her with gaping mouths, Harry turned his gaze to her, stood up and put his fist through the just repaired glass, the noise reverberated round the corridor, Harry's rage boiled right over,
"WHAT THE FUCK MAKES HIM THINK THAT HE CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS!! HE CAN'T JUST MAKE SOME SPEECH AND THINK HE CAN WALK AWAY!! WHAT THE FUCK DOES HE KNOW ABOUT LOVE ANYWAY, MALFOY'S DON'T KNOW HOW TO. HE IS NOT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS, I AM GOING TO MAKE HIM PAY FOR WHAT HE DID. HIM AND HIS MASTER." Having now attracted the attention of most of the people down the train, Harry shouted at them, "What are you looking at? Mind your own fucking business," all the younger students hurried back into their cabins, the older ones gave him a look of disdain and annoyance, Seamus and Dean made their way into the compartment to try and reason with Harry. For that Hermione was grateful. Ron and Dean managed to make Harry sit down, Ginny sat by him rubbing his back, calming him, it was she who spoke first,
"Harry, please. You have to calm down. If you let your anger consume you then Malfoy wins, he wants you to react to this, then he seems like the rational one. I know you want to hurt him for what he did, but we need you, if you kill him, if you let him win then we'll have lost you, i'll have lost you, I can't lose you twice." She kissed him on the cheek and hugged herself to him. He looked down at her, then up at the others,
"She's right Harry, you can't let him win. He's a prat but I think its best we stay away from him and his cronies this year," said Ron, he looked over at Hermione, she had been oddly quiet throughout, usually she had something to say. She realized that everyone seemed to be looking at her,
'What? Why are all looking at me?"
"You've just been quiet is all Hermione, what do you think about Malfoy?" She pondered Ron's question for a moment, then stared out the window,
"He's right. You know he's right Harry. What wouldn't you do to save the people you love? And this fight, it was never between you and him, its between you and Voldemort and what he represents. Malfoy, he was just used because he was to weak to say no." They couldn't believe what they were hearing, she had just stood up for the slimy git. Ron turned slightly red and yelled at her,
"Excuse me? You're sticking up for him, agreeing with him? What is this Hermione? Adopt a ferret day?" She looked at him and shook her head,
"God, don't you understand? He knows that when it comes to it, Harry will destroy Voldemort and those people he loves will be safe, he won't try and stop Harry from doing it. He did what he did to protect his world. I don't agree with what he did, and I will never ever feel sorry for him, but I understand his motive. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go to the Heads compartment," she pushed past them and walked out of the compartment, leaving them totally confused in her wake. She leaned against the corridor wall, what the hell was she thinking? Now they would all think she had gone crazy, she smacked her head against the wall. She couldn't have seriously thought good of Malfoy? One fucked up dream about him and she was suddenly his grand defender. She had to forget about this, she had to support her friends. Still, she couldn't shake off the feeling his look at her had evoked. Pulling herself together, she made her way to the Heads compartment, she was almost there when she bumped right into something tall and solid...

*****"Wake up Draco," someone whispered in his ear. "Wake up, Love," whoever it was was now planting butterfly kisses down his neck, to his collarbone. He stirred and opened one eye lazily,
"I am awake," he turned over to face the person lying next to him. Her chocolate brown eyes were darkened with lust and love, she smiled a truly Slytherin smile and kissed him on the lips before he could react. He kissed her back passionately, caressing her tongue with his own. She drew back and looked intently at him, he then realized who it was,
"Granger, you're in my fucking dream again. Why are you here?"
"We already covered that Draco, I'm here because you want me here. You need me here, you have always needed me, whether you admit it to yourself or not." He shoved her away from him and got out of the bed. They were in his private rooms in the Slytherin dungeon. He walked to his desk and leant on it.
"This can't be real Hermione, we both know in the real world, this, us, it could never ever be anything," he sat in the chair and put his head in his hands. She rose gracefully from the bed and walked over to him, clad only in his school shirt. When she got to him, she pulled him up and wrapped her arms around him. His instant reaction was to envelop her tiny frame in his arms. He was so tall he could rest his head on the top of hers, she leaned back and looked up at him with wide -eyed innocence,
"You're right," she said simply, tears welling up, "We can't feel this in the real world, there's to much in the way, but know this, I will always be waiting for you. Wherever you are, I'll be there, waiting."
"For what? This to become real? It can never, won't ever happen, my father, your friends, our history. I won't ask you to stay for me," he replied.
"You don't have to. I will always wait for you, Love. Now are you ready?" She kissed him, "Wake up. Draco, wake up."******

"DRACO, MAN! WAKE UP!" Blaise practically had to yell right in his ear. Draco woke with a start. His eyes flashed anger,
"For fuck's sake Blaise! You don't have to shout in my fucking ear! Whaddya want?" He glared at Blaise, furious at him for waking him up. Blaise only smirked and said,
"Sorry mate, this carriage is reserved for the Head's only, and seeing as I not you am Head Boy you are gonna have to leave," Draco shook himself awake and got up to leave, Blaise grabbed him by the arm,
"Word of advice mate, you'd do best to stay on the right side of the others, they still see you as a traitor to the cause." Draco whirled around and shoved Blaise against the nearest wall,
"The cause? What fucking cause? That bloody half-bloods dimwitted notion that he is better then the rest of us? I'm no traitor, not to his cause anyway. Like I said, they'd do best to leave me alone, they don't know who they are messing with," he released Blaise and left the compartment, in the process knocking right into someone....

Hermione, stumbled backwards, she looked up, the one person she did not want to see was now standing in front of her, looking intensely angry,
"Watch where you're going Mudblood!" He spat at her. She glared at him and smirked,
"Such a pleasure having you back Malfoy," she said with venom, he raised an eyebrow at her reaction, the fire he had seen in her eyes had returned, it consumed him,
"Surprised to see me back, Mudblood?" She looked him straight in the eye and said,
"I knew you'd be here, Malfoy." Draco's eyes snapped up, she had repeated the phrase from his dream, he got right in her face,
"What did you just say?" She was shocked by the expression on his face, as if he had heard her say those words before, but he can't have done, she replied cattily,
"You know exactly what I said. Now do you mind, you're in my way, prick" she tried to shove past him but he refused to budge, she leaned back and slapped him round the face, the look in his eye was unfathomable, he moved from her path. She gave him one last look of utter disdain and entered the Heads compartment. He stood for a moment before shaking his head and saying to himself,
"It can't be real. She just a stupid Mudblood, she's nothing. Nothing."

Shaken by her encounter with Malfoy, Hermione hardly registered the other person in the carriage, she sat opposite him, and attempted to calm herself down. Unknown to her and Malfoy, Blaise had witnessed the whole scene, and the situation intrigued him, he watched as Granger tried hard to control her breathing,
"How strange," he thought "Who'd have thought Draco would have such an effect on the little Mudblood," he chuckled to himself, this alerted her to his presence. She recognized the boy who sat across from her, she had seen him conversing with Malfoy at the Slytherin table, his presence here must mean that he was the new Head Boy.
"Who are you?" She asked rather rudely, he smiled, his indigo eyes were rather unnerving,
"There's no need to be so rude you know. I'm the new Head Boy."
"I realize that, but what's your name?"
"Blaise." He could see that she was uncomfortable with being in such close quarters with him, it was amusing to watch. "Do you not remember me from that farce that was Slug Club?" He snickered. She knew he looked familiar, up close he really was quite attractive, she remembered that he was quiet, never really saying much, now though it seemed he wouldn't shut up, "I caught your little drama with Draco just now. Interesting how he would have that effect on you, I didn't realize he bothered you so much." He was cut off by the entrance of McGonagall, come to give them their instructions, Hermione was glad of the intrusion,
"Aaah, Granger, Zabini, Congratulations on your appointment as Head Girl and Boy. I trust that you will get along, despite the rivalry between your houses, and that you will encourage Inter-House Relations, as two of the highest scoring students I am relying on you to keep order this year. In light of the events of last year," here she paused, and looked at both of them in turn, "I feel that the students will be particularly edgy especially around certain people, so I am trusting you to keep the peace. You will be required to organize prefect meetings, and nightly patrols, I shall give you the prefect lists for the year. You will be shown to your quarters after the welcome feast. Now, Miss Granger, if you'll excuse us, I wish to speak to Mr. Zabini alone." Hermione nodded, shot Blaise an inquiring look and left the compartment to return to Harry and Ron. Blaise readied himself for the lecture that McGongall was predictably going to give him, he jumped in first,
"I assume, Headmistress, that this 'talk' concerns Draco?" She looked surprised at his quick grasp of the situation, then nodded,
"Yes Mr. Zabini, it does concern Mr. Malfoy. As, I'm sure you know, he was deeply involved in the 'incident' last year and as a result faced charges at the Ministry. He was subsequently cleared of those charges and readmitted to Hogwarts by the school board. However, even though cleared of any charges against him, I fear that some may look at him with a certain amount of animosity. I am trusting you, as Draco's friend, to keep an eye on him and keep any trouble to a minimum. We both know how quick tempered Draco, and others can be." She left without another word on the subject. Blaise sat back and stared out at the passing countryside. Yes, Draco was quick tempered but he had agreed to keep his head down, he didn't think that Draco's presence in Slytherin house would cause much of a problem, their housemates looked at him and Draco as leaders. Being the sons of the Dark Lords most trusted servants does that, people are easier to control when they are afraid. The door to the compartment opened, Blaise turned to see who had disturbed him, it was Crabbe, Goyle and Nott. He sighed, he really didn't feel like dealing with them right now.
"What can I do for you gentlemen?" He inquired. They sat themselves opposite him, it was Nott who spoke,
"We need to talk Zabini, about Malfoy. We don't trust him." Blaise laughed out loud, they looked at him oddly, "We don't trust him because he begged for mercy at the hands of the Ministry and he didn't fight Potter on the platform." Blaise stopped sniggering and said in mock surprise,
"I didn't realize you lot had enough brain cells to form independent thoughts. Do you think because you took the Dark Mark you are prithee to all the Dark Lords plans? Malfoy is still who he always was and you'd do best to remember it. Respect him or you will have me to answer to, now get gone." They scurried out, like he said before people are easier to control when they have something to fear, and despite their sudden coherence Crabbe, Goyle and Nott would always be afraid of the two Slytherin Princes. The train began to pull to a stop, Blaise pulled on his robe and went to organize the prefects into some semblance of order.

The Great Hall was buzzing with noise, Harry, Ron and Hermione were seated at the head of Gryffindor table, as usual some of the students were whispering and pointing at Harry. He was growing more pissed off by the second, Hermione was beginning to tire of his constant mood swings. She was about to reprimand him for it when McGongall stepped up to begin the sorting ceremony. After this was over, the new Headmistress addressed the students,
"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. I understand that this year may be somewhat different, but I know that if we stand united we can face the trials and tribulations that are presented to us," at this statement the grey ceiling of the Great Hall gave a crack of thunder and the doors were flung open, most of the students gasped at the sight of Draco Malfoy, disbelief that he was back etched on their faces, those younger students who knew him only by reputation quivered in their seats. He scowled at the onlookers and stalked to his seat at the head of the Slytherin table, giving no excuse or apology for his late arrival. McGonagall looked at him disapprovingly, then continued with her speech,
"Thank you Mr. Malfoy for the interruption please report to my office after the feast. As I was saying, this year may prove trying, but work hard and stay true to yourselves and we will prevail over anything that is thrown at us. Now can we welcome back Alastor Moody to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts." The Hall broke out in scattered applause, Moodys appearance startling the newest students. "And also congratulate our new Head Boy and Girl, Blaise Zabini and Hermione Granger." Blaise and Hermione stood up and were applauded by their fellow classmates, she could feel Malfoy's piercing gaze on her as she smiled at the students around her. McGonagall continued, "If you should have any problems please feel free to approach them and they shall do their upmost to help. Now all that remains is to enjoy the feast!"

When the feast was over, Draco rose from his seat and sauntered out of the Great Hall, Pansy caught up with him, she nuzzled his neck and purred in his ear,
"Sorry about earlier, Draco, pet. I was just doing what the others told me. I got scared when you told me to leave you alone. I can make it up to you, do you want me to wait in your room? Or will you come to mine?" He shuddered at the motion she was now making in his ear, he shoved her off of him, she stumbled backward, he said to her in a low and dangerous tone,
"I meant what I said earlier Parkinson, leave me the fuck alone, if I find you even anywhere near my room, I will make sure that you'll regret it, you understand me?" She nodded, tears cascading down her face. He stalked off to the Headmistresses office. He arrived to find McGonagall waiting outside for him. He smiled a falsely sweet smile, she looked at him with slight contempt,
"Mr. Malfoy, welcome back. Lemon Drop." The stone griffin moved aside and they made their way up to the Heads Office. Once inside, she motioned for him to sit, he looked around, the office was the same as it was the last time he was in here, except for the addition of Dumbledore's portrait, Draco found himself unable to look at this one for too long, his dead Headmasters blue eyes scrutinized him. McGonagall cleared her throat, he turned to her,
"Now Mr. Malfoy, regarding your re-admittance to the school, there are certain conditions which you will need to follow. Do you understand?" He nodded, a look of contempt and annoyance on his face, she ignored his scowl and continued,
"I understand that it may seem an inconvenience to you, but the Ministry insisted. Firstly, all your outgoing and incoming correspondence will be screened, secondly you will at all times, except sleeping, be accompanied by another Seventh Year student. If you do not like these arrangements then you can get on the train and go home. I, however believe that it would be best for you to comply, as archaic as these conditions are, you may not like it but it would be best," she said this with a sad look in her eye, as if she truly felt sorry for him. He gave a sneer and said,
"Great, just like living at home with the old man. Can I go?" She frowned, and said,
"Yes, tomorrow your escort will meet you outside the Great Hall." He got up and swept out of the room. He made his way to his private room in the Slytherin Dungeon. The noise in the common room ceased as he entered, all eyes were on him, he glared at the other students, walked across the room and up the stairs, he refused to be intimidated by the fact that the entire population of Slytherin house were gossiping about him. He poured himself a drink, took a sip then threw the glass into the fireplace. They were treating him like a child, making him have an escort, knowing his luck it would probably be Neville Longbottom the wonder idiot or worse, Potty or the Weasel. He flopped onto his bed and fell into uneasy sleep.

Blaise and Hermione loitered in the hall waiting for McGonagall to return from her meeting with Malfoy, whilst they were waiting, Hermione took time to fully take in Blaise's persona, he was tall, not as tall as Ron but taller then Harry, he had a mess of jet black hair, olive skin and dark brown eyes. He was something of an enigma to the students of Hogwarts, never really being noticed, quietly blending in, until now. He looked up, Hermione blushed and turned away, he chuckled,
"Something bothering you Granger?" She scowled and shook her head. He laughed out loud and went back to cleaning his fingernails. She mentally berated herself for having been caught staring at him, he really was, well, gorgeous, she suspected he had Italian blood in him, which to her knowledge would make him hot tempered and unbelievably arrogant. She spied McGonagall coming round the corner, the Headmistress reached them,
"Aah, thank you for waiting for me. If you would please follow me, I will show you to your quarters," Blaise allowed Hermione in front of him, he gave her a sweetly false smile and followed behind. At first he thought that they were going to the Slytherin dungeon but then they took a left at the first corridor and down a staircase, finally they arrived at what looked like a portrait of the two of them. As he got closer, he could see that it was him and Hermione, the Hermione of the portrait was sneaking glances at his likeness, who was flexing his muscles. The whole scene made him laugh. Hermione looked mortified. McGonagall told them the password and the painting swung forward. The common room was huge, it had a seating area besides a magnificent fireplace, two desks, presumably for the two of them, and a small area that looked like a kitchen. The staircase in the centre, led to two massive rooms for the each of them, with an adjoining bathroom. Hermione's eyes widened in awe at the spectacle before her. McGonagall smiled and said,
"I hope you like the space, your things will be in your rooms, if you need to contact me, there is a portrait by the entrance which has a replica in my office. This room will be used for prefect meetings, which you must organize. Now, goodnight to the both of you and once again, congratulations." She left the room.
Hermione was exhausted and wanted nothing more then to collapse onto the double bed in her new quarters. In a way she was glad to be away from Gryffindor tower, not that she wouldn't miss the others but here she felt safe and at least now she wouldn't be disturbed in her studies. She realized Blaise was now staring at her,
"That vacant expression suits you Granger, what can you be thinking of? I know, its me naked isn't it? I'm sorry Granger but you are just going to have to keep your hands off, after all the Weasel would not be too happy that his new Princess is thinking such things about the bad ass Slytherin Head Boy," he winked at her and then sauntered over to stand directly in front of her. She could feel his breath on her neck, smell the scent of his cologne, she froze on the spot, his nearness was making her blood boil, "Admit it Granger, you just want me." He chucked her under the chin, he could see the fire in her gaze, her expression otherwise unreadable, standing this close to her, he realized she was actually quite beautiful, if he wasn't careful he would end up in a very sticky situation. She fluttered her eyelashes at him, leaned up and whispered in his ear,
"Oh my god, you're right. I want you. I want you to get the fuck away from me." She socked him one round the face and yelled, "Don't ever come near me again you disgusting excuse for human being. Ron is ten times the man you are." She whirled around and stomped up to her room, she slammed the door and paced the length of the bedroom breathing heavily, muttering under her breath,
"That sleazy, slimy, disgusting Death Eater bastard, how dare he think he can just intimidate me like that, what does he think I am the virgin queen of Hogwarts? As if! He doesn't know a thing about me. Why'd I have to get stuck with him, with that sexy, smoldering...OH MY GOD! What am I saying, I mean how'd I get stuck with that, Slytherin, Death Eater, Draco Malfoy's best friend, idiot," she stopped in the middle of the room, she was being stupid, she could handle him, he was just a person, even if he was unnervingly good looking and will probably invite his Death Eater pals to the common room everyday, including Malfoy. She collapsed onto the bed, exhausted, she fell asleep straight away.
Meanwhile, in the common room, Blaise was still stood where she had left him. He wasn't shocked at her actions, he probably would have slapped him as well because if what he had said. He chuckled lightly, with what he had just found out about the new Head Girl, coupled with what he had witnessed on the train between her and Draco, this was going to be a very interesting couple of weeks, messing with the Gryffindor Princess. Already the cogs in his head were whirling, if he and Draco could get her on side, it would be priceless. He couldn't deny that she was powerful, he had seen the fire in her eyes when she had hit him. They could use power like that, plus he would have no objection to using her in other ways to; although he could already see the connection between her and Draco, all the sniping at each other masking what they truly felt. Hopefully Draco would be up for sharing. She would belong to them, body and soul. He would be hailed a hero, breaking up the so called Golden Trio and stealing their Princess, muggleborn or not, she was a prize worth every ounce of effort. Once they were through with her, she wouldn't care what side she was on in this war, or her allegiance to Potter and the Weasel. He needed a smoke, so he walked to the doors in the seating area that opened onto a balcony that looked over the Black Lake and Forbidden Forest. He lit up and took a drag, smiling to himself, he decided he would relay his plan to Draco in the morning, his expertise would be vital to execute the plan with perfect precision.